When it comes to an offensive philosophy, the Yankees have been card counters at the Black Jack table.
Your system stacks one output speed monster after another. They believe that devotion to this energy methodology will translate into approximately a .600 profit percentage. Who cares what 40% of losses are due to the shortage of left-handed bats, persevering defenders and athletes? If you win six out of 10, you make the playoffs and, once there, with health and maybe some luck, a team can win it all.
Therefore, in the face of a 15-game crisis, the Yankees remain stubborn in defense out of position and in risk-averse offensive, season after season, believing that over time, as a card accounting system. inexorable, will your 60% return the solution?
Brian Cashman took part in a teleconference on Monday with reporters to “reinforce” that the Yankees “will not adjust course” after 15 games. He emphasized patience in the face of panic. Cashman, three more decades with the Yankees and two more as a GM, that experience has taught him how to withstand the bad stretches of the year if you believe in your process and product.
“We know there are better days ahead,” Cashman said.
There must be, unless you think the 2021 Yankees (5-10) have a .333 winning percentage and the worst AL team. Cashman and the organization have benefited from both doubt and time. They have observed all the dilemmas of the regular season of four alarms over a quarter of a century to play at least significantly until the end of September and often in October.
Still, the elements of these 15 games feel more troubling than two bad weeks:
- Because it’s not 15 games. Since early last season, the Yankees are between 38 and 37 years old and the 38 were created significantly by the overwhelming bad clubs of Orioles and Red Sox last season. In the face of strong opposition, that is, lightning, the Yankees have seemed disconnected and unhooked. It may be unfair to include a reduced pandemic season as part of this year, but it is possible that the Yanks have been treading the wrong path for more than 15 games.
- Pitching is better than ever at exploiting weaknesses with dominant things of high speed and spin. The entire league reaches 0.233 (by the way, Aaron Hicks ’career average), which is the lowest in MLB history.
Opponents have deduced how to expose a one-size-fits-all Yankees lineup for their lack of lefts and reluctance to move runners? No team sees fewer fastballs (four and two seams). The Yanks have been kept on the ground as they drew attention once every four plate appearances (the worst in their history). The element that helps overcome the shortcomings in their length of defense and rotation (the long ball) is very low: one home run every 30.7 bats compared to one every 20.4 last year.
Perhaps familiarity, especially with lightning, has stopped the Yankees, and when they leave the AL East, the offense will revive. That starts Tuesday night against Atlanta, though the opposing starter is a right-hander, Charlie Morton, quite familiar with making them miserable as Astro and Ray.
“We trust our players, in our process,” Cashman said.
I have it. But when the offense is so bad, why not improve defense, athletics, baseball IQ and left-wing presence, especially from Brett Gardner on the left, Mike Tauchman in the center and Kyle Higashioka with a 50-50 timeshare with Gary Sanchez could also provide better bats.
The Yankees want to give Clint Frazier a broad look. But is he a showcase warrior? The guy who will excel on a test field and get the fifth overall position because of the speed of the elite bats and the speed of the foot and the strength of the arm above average? Is it a bunch of attractive disparate skills that don’t form a high-level player due to the inability to think and adapt in real time? Frazier has more talent than Gardner, but is he a better player who helps win a team more often?
Hicks seems lost. I have no idea if the Tauchman that hit so well in 2019 is real. I know he’s the Yankees ’main base robbery threat, a better defender than Hicks, and that a field outside the Gardner, Tauchman, and Aaron Judge area can save pitchers some base throws and runners. Gardner and Tauchman insert left-handed bats and athletics, at the very least.
Sanchez has not been the Yankee problem. He is a misunderstood player because his body language suggests disinterest. They care. But like Gardner and Frazier, Higashioka is less talented than Sanchez, but is he a better player? His defense is better. And their bats have been good. Will it be true if they are exposed more? Why not see splitting catch duties?
I recognize Cashman’s reluctance to change course after 15 games. But the offense has been so bad, why not improve advocacy and diversity and perhaps get better production?